Good Doubting

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Good Doubting

Today we turn to that familiar story of Doubting Thomas from the gospel of John. In John Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb of Jesus alone. The only one. She sees that the tomb is empty and panics. Where did the body of Jesus go. She goes and tells Peter and another disciple what she’s seen. They go to the tomb and find it empty as well. They take off, but Mary stays. Two angels talk with her and asks why she is weeping. She tells them that someone has stolen the body of Jesus. She feels someone standing behind her and turns around to see a man she thinks is the gardener. But, then the man says to her, “Mary!” And she immediately recognizes his voice and falls down to worship him.  She then runs and tells the disciples what she’s experienced.

Where were the disciples? Where did they go. It says in John’s account that they went home. Yes. They heard the good news and they went home.  But then we hear that they locked themselves in a room. Locked themselves in a room to protect themselves from the Jews. From the Jewish authorities who they feared would find them and then execute them like Jesus due to their association with Jesus.   

What do you think the disciples were feeling? Were thinking? Were experiencing right after the death of Jesus? After Mary, Peter and the other disciple found the tomb empty? Feelings of sadness- they had lost their teacher, their mentor, their Savior, their leader. Sad, just sad. At the same time, they were getting nervous about their futures. What would the future bring?  What would happen to them?  And, there were shaking in their sandals.  What would happen to them now? Would they be arrested, put on trial, nailed to a cross just like Jesus. Where is Thomas?  What is Thomas doing? We don’t know, but he is not with the disciples.

Let’s jump from that world of Mary and the disciples to us here at Cross this morning… The disciples closed and locked the door to protect themselves from the Jews. Take a look at your life right now.. Who or what are you trying to keep out of your life?  Who are what have you locked the door on?   Perhaps, you’ve locked out a good friend who hurt you or spoke ill of you. Perhaps, you’ve locked out or closed the door on your spouse or one of your children.  (out of painful or tough issues to be talked about). Or, perhaps there is a co-worker whose words and actions have led you to lock him or her out.  And, dare I ask if you’ve locked out the Holy Spirit’s presence and power? Even though it’s real and there for you….

Back to the story. Back to Thomas the doubter. I like Thomas because he is a realist. He asks the hard questions. He is honest. He doesn’t sugar coat his feelings, beliefs or insights.  Even though the disciples tell him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” Thomas holds back. He is reserved and calculating. Unless I see Jesus I won’t believe. Unless I see the marks of the nails and put my finger in those nails. Unless I see the wound in his side and place my hand in the wound of his side, I will not believe.

In a previous call of mine I went out to visit a couple who had just had a baby.  I went out to congratulate them and to speak with them about getting their child baptized.   After a nice conversation I raised the subject of baptism…and then there was a pause. Long pause. Finally, the father cleared his throat….and said this, “Pastor, I can’t do this because I have to see before I can believe. You are talking a lot about Jesus. Well, I can believe in Jesus because I can’t see him!” And, I  don’t want my child baptized in the name of Jesus, because I don’t know if he is real or not!”

You may find yourself entertaining doubts.  Did God really raise Jesus from the dead?  How can we know for sure with so many different accounts of the resurrection and so many resurrection appearances.  And, will God really raise us from the dead? And, what about those who have already passed or died, will they be raised from the dead?   And, what about us? Can we really trust that one day we will be raised in the resurrection with Jesus?

The apostle Paul helps us with these hard questions. First, in our 1 Thessalonians reading.  There were those Paul was writing to who were worried about the fate of their loved ones who had died. Paul assures them that because God raised Jesus from the dead, that their loved ones in Christ will also be raised, first. And then those who are alive in Christ will be raised.  At the last trumpet, at the call of the archangels the dead will be raised.

And, then in this letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul makes the same argument.  Because God raised Jesus from the dead,  we will also be raised and will be given a new body in Christ, a new heavenly body, a new spiritual body. A body that will last forever!

Back to our story from John. Most importantly this morning I want to draw our attention to Jesus.  Our resurrected Lord, on the very first day of his resurrection He appears to the 10 disciples who are hiding behind their locked door- walks right through the door. And the first thing he says to them as their jaws drop to the floor and eyes expand wide open… “Peace be with you!” Peace be with you!    He then breathes on them the Holy Spirit and sends them out with message of forgiveness.   Thomas is absent. But  one week later Jesus returns to them and Thomas is there. Again, Jesus brings a message of peace and the Holy Spirit. He turns to Thomas and patiently tells him to put his finger in the mark of the nails in his hands and to put his hand in his side. Believe Thomas!

My friends,  our Lord Jesus is raised and has shown up right here at Cross and right in our hearts. Jesus says, “Peace be with you! I love you. And, I am now sending you out with the good news of Jesus.  I have given you the Holy Spirit and am sending you out in the power of the Holy Spirit.